Counties with the highest unemployment in Texas

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Texas, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Texas.

#50. Upshur County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,597 people (894 unemployed)

#49. Cherokee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,048 people (1,014 unemployed)

#48. Panola County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,819 people (483 unemployed)

#47. San Jacinto County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,221 people (648 unemployed)

#46. Wood County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,887 people (929 unemployed)

#45. Walker County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,931 people (1,210 unemployed)

#44. Coryell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,601 people (1,249 unemployed)

#43. Bell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 155,130 people (7,645 unemployed)

#42. Hale County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,423 people (574 unemployed)

#41. Val Verde County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,165 people (1,057 unemployed)

#40. Hardin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,317 people (1,305 unemployed)

#39. San Patricio County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,543 people (1,513 unemployed)

#38. Gregg County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 59,629 people (2,974 unemployed)

#37. Hall County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,086 people (57 unemployed)

#36. Madison County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,951 people (258 unemployed)

#35. Eastland County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,459 people (333 unemployed)

#34. Freestone County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,868 people (354 unemployed)

#33. Cass County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,179 people (635 unemployed)

#32. Chambers County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,449 people (1,162 unemployed)

#31. Waller County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,336 people (1,421 unemployed)

#30. Marion County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,569 people (243 unemployed)

#29. Trinity County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,432 people (290 unemployed)

#28. Jim Wells County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,418 people (862 unemployed)

#27. Matagorda County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,634 people (932 unemployed)

#26. Presidio County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,074 people (166 unemployed)

#25. Cameron County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 189,076 people (10,213 unemployed)

#24. Bee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,624 people (534 unemployed)

#23. Polk County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,965 people (1,094 unemployed)

#22. Orange County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 36,858 people (2,011 unemployed)

#21. Jim Hogg County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,964 people (111 unemployed)

#20. Garza County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,023 people (115 unemployed)

#19. Liberty County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 37,575 people (2,123 unemployed)

#18. Brooks County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,268 people (131 unemployed)

#17. Frio County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 2.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,354 people (543 unemployed)

#16. Harrison County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 28,621 people (1,663 unemployed)

#15. Morris County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,703 people (287 unemployed)

#14. Tyler County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,060 people (441 unemployed)

#13. Hidalgo County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 390,310 people (23,841 unemployed)

#12. Sutton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,039 people (70 unemployed)

#11. Jefferson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 107,301 people (6,856 unemployed)

#10. Dickens County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 571 people (39 unemployed)

#9. Jasper County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,652 people (856 unemployed)

#8. Kenedy County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 128 people (9 unemployed)

#7. Newton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,149 people (354 unemployed)

#6. Willacy County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,087 people (489 unemployed)

#5. Sabine County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,415 people (248 unemployed)

#4. Zapata County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,736 people (345 unemployed)

#3. Maverick County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,775 people (1,800 unemployed)

#2. Zavala County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,594 people (294 unemployed)

#1. Starr County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,409 people (2,436 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.